Genesis 3 The Seduction of Eve Part 3

“Beasts of the field” is yet another term that one must understand to be able to properly understand the events of Genesis 3. This entire topic is worthy of a study by itself but because it is mentioned in Gen 3 I have to cover it here in conjunction with Gen 3 so people can understand where I am coming from. This term as well as other terms, are best well understood in the bible by looking at it as whole rather than taking a verse or two out of context. So, in this case I plan to show many examples of the word beast and show that it is not talking about 4 footed animals, nor brute beasts, but rather living creatures other than Adam.

The 3 Hebrew words that were translated as “beast” in the King James Bible are as follows:

Behema, Strong's #929- Cattle or other 4 footed animals.

Beir, Strong's #1165- A brute beast meaning like a tiger, etc..

Chevya, Strong's #2416- This word simply means a living creature.

A classic example that contains the word “beasts” is the passage of Jonah 3:7-8. This is when Jonah went to Nineveh and delivered his message to the captured Israelites in Assyria, the bible says that both man and beast were covered with sackcloth and cried unto God. It would take a far stretch of the imagination to believe that this passage is talking about 4 footed cattle. It's obvious that cattle cannot know right from wrong and cannot turn from violence in their hands as mentioned in the book of Jonah. Did you notice it did not say hoofs or paws? But wait there's still more.

In Exodus chapter 9 God curses the cattle in the early verses of chapter 9, however in Exodus Exodus 9:9-10 it talks about another separate curse from the cattle curse that was put upon both man and beast. Notice the word beast is not included with cattle in this chapter, and is separate. Again in Exodus 9:19 it makes a distinction between cattle and beasts. In fact the bible says in verse 19 that the beasts not only worked along side of man, but the beasts had homes to go home to just like the man did.

In Exodus 11:5 it talks about the first born of the Pharaoh, maidservant, and beasts. Are we to believe that God killed the first of cattle, sheep, dogs, cats, rats? Of course not.

Exodus 19:12-13 in 13 it talks about the hands of the beast. Once again it is not a hoof, nor a paw, but a hand.

Exodus 22:19 talks about improper relationships with beasts, and the ramification for doing so. In fact idea is also in Leviticus 20:14-15 also talks about improper relationships with beasts, in which you are to put both to death both man and the beast which can only mean that both man the beast knew it was doing was wrong to lie together. In fact in Jeremiah 31:27 tells us that the seed of both Israel and Judah's seed will be sown with the seed of man and of beast in the last day. A man cannot sow his seed with a cattle this should be obvious.

In Exodus 23:29 Father Yahweh tells us he will not drive out the Canaanite and Hittite all at once from Israel's new land because the beasts of the field will multiply and force them out. There was about 3,000,000 Israelites that were there at that time and if it meant cattle or tigers were going to attack then the Israelites would have no problem taking care of business when attacked by unorganized animals.

Judges 20:48 When the Israelites smote both men and beasts. This is a major clue because it could not have meant cattle. Cattle were normally captured war goods during military conflicts.

Jeremiah 33:10 Talks very plainly about beasts cohabiting with man in the streets of Jerusalem.

Numbers 31:46-47 Earlier in this chapter it talks about the beast and man. In the prior verses it talks about cattle and are obviously different than the beasts.

Jeremiah 27:6 Beasts in this verse were captured and are servants, for example; Daniel 4:25 Nebuchadnezzar was taken care of by the beasts when he had his 7 years of insanity. Are we to believe that cattle took care of the King?

Zechariah 8:10 tells that in the last days their will be no employment neither for man nor beast. Does this mean that a tiger or cattle can be employed?

What else can we know about these beasts in the bible?

Ecclesiastes 3:21 Beasts have a spirit, but cannot be redeemed as Israel. They can have a basic understanding of God and worship him and honor him as creator (Isaiah 43:20).

In conclusion the beast in these verses are not a head of cattle, nor a brute beast, but rather simply a living creature separate from Adam kind.

Praise the Lord!